30 June 2006: Today, 16 charity heroes have been named as the 2005/6 winners of the annual Beacon Prize. Now in its third year, the Prize has come to be known as the ‘Nobel Prize of the charity world’, a phrase first coined by Chancellor Gordon Brown at the inaugural Prize Ceremony in 2003.

Joining the ranks of previous Prize winners such as Sir Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver and environmentalist Zac Goldsmith, the 2005/6 recipients were chosen for their exceptional philanthropic contributions, through the giving of their time, money and skills in order to benefit specific charitable causes. Selected by an independent group of six judges headed by Beacon Chair, Martyn Lewis CBE, the winners were selected from more than 300 nominations received from across the UK.

Among the 2005/6 winners are Paul and Diana Lamplugh, who have been recognised by Beacon for their work for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, created after the disappearance of their daughter in 1986, with the aim of establishing greater awareness of personal safety whilst addressing the issues of violence and aggression in society at large; The Big Issue Founder, John Bird, for his dedication to the support of the homeless and Vivien Duffield, philanthropist and arts patron who through the Clore Foundation has pledged more than £11 million to charitable causes.

Also included in the line-up of winners are the ‘Angel of Nagpur’, Leah Pattison, whose life has been devoted to working with leprosy sufferers in central India; holocaust counsellor Helen Bamber, who for nearly sixty years has worked in the care and support of victims of torture, and Rita Patel, the Leicester-based community builder, who works for the support and integration of the Asian communities in the East Midlands.

Beacon Chairman Martyn Lewis notes: “We are thrilled to have such a diverse and accomplished group of winners for the 2005/6 Beacon Prize. Each in their own way exemplifies the Beacon goal of encouraging others to give of their own resources, be it through time, money or skills, in order to benefit charitable causes”.

The Prize Ceremony will take place in November 2006, when the winners will be inaugurated as Beacon Fellows, a community of Beacon Prize winners who together, champion charitable causes across the globe and nurture a wider culture of giving in the UK. At the ceremony, the overall Beacon Prize winner will also be announced, and he or she will receive £30,000 to donate to a charitable cause of his or her choice.

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For further information on the Beacon Prize, winners’ biographies and photos of the 2005/6 award recipients or on The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust contact Victoria Walsh on 020 7861 8568 or email vwalsh@bell-pottinger.co.uk or Fintan Nicholls on 0207 203 8295 or email fintan.nicholls@beaconfellowship.org.uk

The full list of Beacon Prize winners for 2005/6 is as follows:

Name

Category

Profile

Lamplugh, Paul and Diana

The Beacon Prize for Leadership

For their leadership in raising awareness of personal safety and addressing the causes and solutions to violence and aggression in society.

Vanier, Jean

The Beacon Prize for Community Builder

For his lifelong commitment to the care, well-being and independence of people with disabilities worldwide.

Bird, John

The Beacon Prize for Creative Giving

For his energy and originality in raising awareness of homelessness, and for his support of homeless communities worldwide.

Pattison, Leah

The Beacon Prize for New Initiatives

For her dedication to the alleviation of leprosy among women in India.

Wells, Benjamin

The Beacon Prize for Young Philanthropist

For his social entrepreneurial work with the marginalised Roma communities of Romania.

Broad, Rev.
Canon William

The Beacon Prize for Family Philanthropy

For his own work and his family’s dedication to improving the lives of people with disabilities, through sailing and recreation.

Orr, Matthew, and Mackintosh, Claire

Beacon Special Prize

For their joint innovation and creativity in charitable fundraising through the creation of ShareGift.

Duffield, Vivien

Beacon Special Prize

For her lifetime devotion to philanthropic giving and her charitable commitment to the arts.

Bamber, Helen

Beacon Special Prize

For her dedication to the care and counselling of Holocaust survivors and victims of torture.

Wood, Michael

Beacon Special Prize

For his commitment to alleviating poverty through his work with the poor and marginalised throughout the world.

McVeigh, Kate

The Beacon Prize for Northern Ireland

For her dedication to transforming the lives of children with Autism in Northern Ireland.

Jacobsen-Okezie, Kerryanne

The Beacon Prize for Wales

For her leadership of the community-led regeneration programme in Newport, South Wales, and her work and commitment to family learning in her local community.

Hardie, Paul

The Beacon Prize for Scotland

For his dedication to the support and development of young people in Arbroath, Scotland.

Patel, Rita

The Beacon Prize for England

For her commitment to multicultural relations and the advancement of Asian women in Leicester through education and training.